UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

HEADQUARTERS, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

FPO, SAN FRANCISCO, 96602

 

In the name of the President of the United States, the Commanding General,

Fleet Marine Force, Pacific takes pleasure in presenting the

 

SILVER STAR MEDAL to

 

HOSPITALMAN MICHAEL LEE WILLIAMSON

 

UNITED STATES NAVY

 

for service as set forth in the following

 

CITATION:

 

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman with Company I, Third Battalion, Third Marines in connection with operations against insurgent Communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 3 April 1966, as Hospitalman Williamson’s platoon was moving from the village of Dong Phuoc to a night defensive position, an enemy rifle grenade exploded in their midst, wounding him in the arm, neck and legs and also wounding two Marines. Bleeding profusely from the arm wound, Hospitalman Williamson quickly applied a battle dressing, then without hesitation hurried to the aid of the other casualties.  When a second grenade exploded, he rushed to treat four new casualties. While he was attempting to move the wounded men to a secure area, the squad was subjected to a heavy volume of small arms fire fol­lowed by a mortar barrage. Undaunted by the vicious fire all around him, he continued to treat the stricken men, supervising their movement to a landing zone and organizing them to ensure that the most serious cases would receive priority evacuation.  Since rescue helicopters were unable to accommodate all the wounded, Hospitalman Williamson gallantly stayed behind and continued to travel with the patrol more than fifteen hundred meters to the Company command post. His resolute effort alle­viated the suffering of numerous wounded men. and undoubtedly saved the lives of several. By his extraordinary concern for the welfare of others although suffering greatly himself, coupled with keen professional skill and unfaltering dedica­tion to duty, Hospitalman Williamson upheld the highest tradi­tions of the United States Naval Service."

 

FOR THE PRESIDENT,

 

 

A. R. KIER      ­

MAJOR GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS

ACTING COMMANDING GENERAL